Torpedo-launching tube.



W. DIETER.

TORPEDO LAUNCHING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20,1915.

1,149,505. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET li Q INVENTOR fW1TNF5sEs= m By Ail eys,

W. DIETER.

TORPEDO LAUNCHING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20,1915.

1 149 505 Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I INVENTOR WITNESSES; m l

fliitorneys, 1 M Wi w UNITED TTE PATENT FFIQE.

WILLIAM DIETER, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.. ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPOR-ATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 10, 1915.

Application filed Apri120, 1915. Serial No. 22,571;

and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and usefulImprovements in Tor pedo-Launching Tubes,.of which the following is a secification.

My invention relates to launching tubes from which submarine torpedoesare project-ed, and has for its object to provide said tubes withanti-friction devices by which the projection of the torpedoes therefrommay be facilitated.

A desirable form in which my invention may be embodied is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a torpedo launching tube equippedwith my invention partly broken. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail end view of one of the housings for myinvention and associated parts. Fig. i is a similar View with the yokeremoved; and Fig. 5 is a cross section on the lines Fig. 2.

My invention is illustrated as applied to a torpedo launching tube Awhich as to its general construction is of a known type and is providedwith a compressed air tank B and the usual sighting glass C. The bodyor, wherein the torpedo is held before launching is separated from thespoon a by a gas check a and the tube has a pivot 01, mount- ,.-ed upona suitable rotary standard a which rotates upon the base a and is bornethereon by anti-friction devices. The spoon a is broken for convenienceof illustration.

According to my invention an anti-friction device D is provided for thepurpose of facilitating the launching of the torpedo and this is mountedwithin the body a so that the upper surface thereof shall receive theweight of the torpedo and enable the same to leave the launching tubewithout friction. I have illustrated the said antifrietion device asbeing contained upon the lower surface of the tube in which position itsupports the torpedo during launching and eases its passage through thetube. Preferably a series of such anti-friction devices are employed andI prefer to place the same on both sides of the pivot a as shown at Dwhereby the tail of the torpedo" is supported until it has completelyleft the tube.

Each anti-friction device D is preferably situated within a housing Ewhich forms an extension of the torpedo tube and in the form shown wherethe inner part of said housing communicates freely with the body.

of thetube a, the housing is made fluid pressure tight so that none ofthe fluid pressure employed to launch the torpedo shall leak through thehousing. This is of greater importance for the housings which lie at therear of the gas check a than for those situated beyond the gas check.

The form of anti-friction device D which I prefer to employ is a roller,the outer or bearing surface of which I prefer to make of a shapesubstantially conforming to the exterior surface of the torpedo and asthese are cylindrical, said surface is illustrated as concave axially.Such form of roller acts to guide the torpedo during launching. Therollers D are mounted upon spindles I-I upon which they may revolve orwhich may revolve with the said rollers. I prefer to mount the saidrollers to revolve upon their respective spindles. These spindles havesuitable bearings at their ends illustrated.

as bushings I. These bushings are provided for each end of the spindleand are maintained in position by removable yokes J likewise situated ateach end and which are provided with bolts whereby they are secured to afixed part of the housing E. The bushings I are mounted in openings B inthe ends of the housings E and each of the said bushings is illustratedas having an annular peripheral channel 2' which may, if desired.receive a packing to prevent leakage of fluid pressure.

In the practical employment of my invention it is highly desirable thatthe antifriction devices D should be capable of adjustment so that theirbearing surfaces may be brought to correct position to properly supportthe torpedo G and whereby the clearance of the torpedo may be varied. Fuch adjustment is relatively very slight and is useful because in theordinary process of manufacture the extremely slight projection of thebearing surface above the bottom of the tube would not always beobtained with the desired accuracy. It is also highly desirable in thecase of the particular anti-friction devices illustrated. the roller lthat each end of this roller should be made adjustable aml that theadjustments for each end should be the same.

desirable method of attaining this adjustment is that illustratedwherein the hearings l for the roller spindle ll in the bushing l aremade eccentric by being bor d oll' center. and l have found that asullicient adjustment nia v be obtained by producing the said boringabout one-eighth inch otl' center. The eccentric bushings l arerevoluble in their hearings l) and as the v are turned the anti-frictionrollers l) are correspondinglv raised and lowered. Means are providedfor gaging the extent of adjust: ment imparted to the rollers I) and forlocking the bushings in adjusted position and such means comprise aseries of holes K with which each bushing is provided on its outer endsurface. and these holes as the bushing is turned one wav or the otherare brought to register with a corresponding hole K in a normallystationar part. as for instance in the yoke .l. and the bushing is heldin adjusted position by a pin L which passes through both of the holes.As illustrated the pin ll is screw-threaded into the hole 1( in thevolte and is adapted to enter any of the correspomling holes K in thebushing which may be inalinement. Each of the bushings is equipped witha similar series: of perforations K, and these are correspondinglvplaced in the said bushings, aml to insure accuracy of adjustment of thetwo ends of the roller D each of the holes in the said series K iscorrespondingly numbered. Arrows are provided which indicate thedirection of rotation of the bushing to attain the desired adjustment. Alubricating cup M is provided through which lubricating material isintroduced and which passes through an axial channel it in the spindle Hand thence through radialpassages 71. to the bearings. A passage 2' isprovided with leads to the channel 2'.

The bushings I are illustrated as provided with annular flanges i whichover-hang the walls of the housing bearing B and provide stops for theaccurate adjustment of the said bushings. The roller spindles H arelikewise provided with annular shoulders 71 which are adapted to bearagainst the inner edges of the bushings I.

Each housing 2 is preferably provided with drainage openings (Z at alower part thereof and which are closed by suitable plugs againstleakage of pressure.

I have illustrated six anti-friction devices D within the pivot (1 ofthe launching tube and one device outside of the pivot, but the numberof such devices is not material and more or less thereof may beemployed, or they may be differently arranged. Furthermore the preciseconstruction of anti-friction devices illustrated. although this is thebest hIItHYH to me. is not the only form in which my invention could beembodied. and although I have illustrated such device as being madeadjustable this adjustable fea ture might he dispensed with by a nicerelation of the parts in imtnufzu-ture. These and other modilicationsmav he made in m v invention within the limits of the appended claimswithout departing from the essential spirit of the invention as setforth in such claims.

What 1 claim is:

l. torpedo launching tube. and antifriction launching rollers thereinhaving concave surfaces aml devices for adjusting said rollers relativeto a torpedo in said tube.

2. torpedo launching tube and antifriction launching rollers thereinhaving concave surfaces.

5 torpedo launching tube, and antifriction launching rollers thereinhaving concave surfaces and devices for vertically adjusting each end ofeach of said rollers.

l. torpedo launching tube. and antifriction launching rollers thereinhaving concave surfaces, at spindle for each of said rollers. b a ringsfor each end of said spindle and means for adjusting each of saidhearings.

A torpedo launching tube having a series of fluid tight housingsdisposed throughout the lower surface thereof and on both sides of thepivotal mounting of said tube and anti-friction devices rotatablymounted therein.

(3. A torpedo launching tube, anti-friction launching rollers therein, aspindle for said rollers. eccentric revoluble bushings for each end ofsaid spindle and locking devices for said bushings.

7. Atorpedo launching tube, anti-friction launching rollers therein, aspindle for said rollers, eccentric revoluhle bushings for each end ofsaid spindle, adjustinggages at each end'of said bushing for obtainingcorresponding adjustments and a lock for each end of said bushing.

8. A torpedo launching tube, anti-friction launching rollers therein, aspindle for said rollers. eccentric revoluble bushings for each end ofsaid spindle. each bushing having a series of corresponding spacedperforations and a locking pin mounted in a fiXed part at each end of.said bushing to have longitudi nal movement and adapted to enter eitherof said perforations.

9. A torpedo launching tube, anti-friction launching rollers thereinwith concave surfaces, a spindle upon which said rollers turn, bushingsateach end of said spindle, each bushing having a series ofcorresponding spaced bolt holes. a locking bolt mounted in a fixed partand adapted to enter either of said bolt holes.

10'. it. torpedo tube, a revoluble anti-friction device therein,aspindle therefor, ec-

centric revoluble bushings for each end of said spindle, a yoke at eachend of said bushings and locking devices associated with each yoke forengaging said bushing at spaced and identified intervals for obtaining asimultaneous adjustment of allparts of said anti-triction devicesrelative to a torpedo in said tube.

11. A torpedo tube, revoluble rollers therein, bearing surfacessubstantially conforming to the torpedo, a spindle therefor upon whichsaid rollers turn, revoluble eccentric bushings for said rollers, yokesfor each of said bushings, each bushing having an annular series ofcorrespondingly spaced and identified bolt holes, a locking boltthreaded in each yoke and. adapted to enter either of said bolt holes inits respective bushing.

12. A torpedo launching tube, rollers at the lower parts adapted toengage and support the torpedo and case its passage through the tube,and means for adjusting said rollers vertically adapted to vary theclearance of the torpedo.

13. A torpedo launching tube, rollers at the lovver parts adapted toengage and support the torpedo and case its passage through. the tube,and means for adjusting each end of said rollers vertically adapted tovary the clearance of the torpedo.

1%. A torpedo launching tube having antifriction launching rollers onboth sides of the pivot.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM DIETER.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY M. TUBE, FRED WHITE.

